It wasn't all cheers and hurrahs as Hong Kong swept Singapore's two features on Sunday night, and outside the Hong Kong bubble, the moans and groans drowned out any celebratory noises.
Sure, Hong Kong may have had a large cheer squad trackside, including a sizeable press pack and a group specially flown in with banners and toys to cheer on Aerovelocity, Lucky Nine, Rich Tapestry, Dan Excel and Military Attack, and they certainly made a racket.
But for the Singapore Turf Club, a dual success for Hong Kong for the third year running was just about the worst result possible, another potential nail in the coffin for the two races as significant international events.
For the STC, they just wanted to see something – ANYTHING – prove that the KrisFlyer Sprint and the Singapore Airlines International Cup weren't just Hong Kong benefits.
Five of the last seven KrisFlyers have gone to Hong Kong, and only one man has been able to thwart the onslaught – Kranji-based trainer Patrick Shaw, who produced champion sprinter Rocket Man to win in 2011 before causing a shock with Ato in 2012.
As for the Cup, it's become a race dominated by Dan Excel and Military Attack. Take out runner-up Smoking Sun last year and the former stablemates have run the quinella three years in a row.
Already, Singapore authorities were crestfallen at the lack of international visitors this year for their showpiece races. Aside from the Hong Kong quintet there were two French gallopers (Free Port Lux and Smoking Sun, fifth and sixth in the Cup respectively), one Japanese visitor (Cup fourth placegetter Meiner Frost) and one Qatari sprinter (last in the KrisFlyer).
Where were the Brits? The Irish? The Australians? The Emiratis? The Germans?
Just two years ago, the first year Hong Kong swept the double with Lucky Nine and Military Attack, there were three visitors from the United Arab Emirates, two from the UK and one each from Australia, Ireland, South Africa, Japan and Germany.
Even five years ago, there were representatives from seven different countries.
Now?
Finding horses – or rather, trainers and owners – who are willing to come to Singapore to take on the might of Hong Kong seems to be a tough ask. Even the prize money doesn’t make it worth it, particularly if finishing in the money looks a futile task.
Perhaps the Cup can be revived, as a strong European could still be more than competitive, but the KrisFlyer looks in a bit of trouble, particularly when there are so many other sprint races that can be targeted in other parts of the world that are worth good money.
It may not have been said explicitly, but the expectation for a number of weeks – both in Hong Kong and in Singapore – was that Sha Tin-trained horses would take both races again and it never looked in any doubt, even after two of our three runners were skittled early in the KrisFlyer.
With that expectation, why make the trip? It’s exactly the mindset the Singapore Turf Club was trying to avoid. Instead, it’s now likely to be something they will need to combat next year. And you can bet they are already casting their minds to next May and the battle to attract runners.
It's not all roses for Hong Kong, either, for the more Hong Kong horses dominate on the world stage, the less likely it is connections will want to take their horses to Sha Tin for the international features – no matter how much prize money is on the line.
There’s a belief amongst some at Sports Road that our racing product is now so strong that international runners should be flooding here to take on our horses, that prestige is only gained by winning in Hong Kong.
It was this belief which was used as the main argument as to why Able Friend should not travel to Royal Ascot. The world’s best should be flocking here to take him on, they said.
This argument seems to ignore the fact that Hong Kong’s reputation as a strong racing jurisdiction has only really been tested and confirmed on the world stage, with wins in Dubai, Singapore, England, Australia and the United States.
But is there a possibility that strength could actually be a negative in the overall scheme of things? Could it be one factor which scares trainers and owners from bringing their horses here?
It is a similar case in Japan, where their international standing and the strength of their horse population has affected the visitors they get for their big races.
Take last year’s Japan Cup, where there were only three visitors – Ireland’s Trading Leather, Germany’s (Our) Ivanhowe and Canada’s Up With The Birds – a far cry from the heyday of the 1990s when the world’s classiest horses were flocking to the race.
Already, there were signs that this was beginning to creep in here with the recent spring features – while the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup attracted some solid international visitors, the Champions Mile had six locals and no raiders.
OK, it was a rare situation, with Able Friend scaring off any potential rivals, but what’s to say the international contenders will return when Able Friend is gone?
The litmus test will come with the Longines Hong Kong International Races in December, when there is little by way of competition on the international calendar. Will they flock here to take on our best horses, particularly in our traditional strengths, the Sprint and the Mile?
So while the Jockey Club basks in the glow of another glorious night in Singapore, the consequences of such a showing of strength will make for a fascinating postscript in the coming months.
